Module 7: Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness

Menu Planning

Page 11

High quality
programs promote safe and healthy environments where children can thrive and
grow. Young children depend upon the adults in their lives to make healthful
choices for them and to teach them to make such choices for themselvesNutrition
Just how much
food do children need? According to the
regulations food must be offered about every 2 ½ to 3 hours. Snacks or
breakfast must be served upon arriving at morning care, and snacks need to be
served to children after school.
Children in care for five hours need to be served breakfast or lunch and
a snack at the minimum. Basically, if children are hungry, feed them. Children do have small stomachs so they need
small amounts of food often. A general
rule of thumb is one tablespoon per year of age as a serving size. A two year old’s
snack might be two tablespoons of applesauce, and one quarter of half a bagel
and a quarter cup of water.
Children
need a variety of foods from each of the food groups. The regulations provide the following
guidelines:Breakfast must contain:

Fruit
or vegetable or 100% juice

A
dairy product

A
grain product

Lunch or dinner must contain:

A
dairy product

Source
of protein – meat, fish, legumes, tofu

A
grain product

Fruit
and Vegetable – or two of one of these

Snack
must offer a beverage and at least two of the following:

Milk
or milk product

Source
of protein – egg, legumes, meat, tofu

A
grain product

Fruit or Vegetable

Snack and
mealtimes are social times-- make sure you sit down and eat with them. Serve
family style, so that each child can serve himself to satisfy his hunger. This also gives the children opportunities to
practice motor and social skills, to engage in conversation, and to have plenty
of time to enjoy each other around the table.
Childhood obesity is a growing concern around the
country. One in six children is
overweight or obese by age six. What is your role in helping children in your
care establish healthy eating habits? Many resources are available to you.

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